The Health Benefits and Pharmacological Effects of Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig)
The Health Benefits and Pharmacological Effects of Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig)
Guizhi, also known as Cinnamon Twig, is the slender branches of the laurel family plant, Cinnamomum cassia. It has a spicy and sweet taste and possesses warm properties. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is known to enter the Heart, Lung, and Bladder meridians, and it offers several health benefits and pharmacological effects. It is commonly used in clinical practice for:
Treating wind-cold exterior syndromes.
Alleviating pain and discomfort associated with cold-damp conditions, menstrual cramps, and dysmenorrhea.
Addressing phlegm and water retention-related conditions like coughing and wheezing, as well as urinary difficulties.
Health Benefits and Pharmacological Effects of Guizhi:
Benefits of Cinnamon Twig:
Inducing sweating and relaxing muscles.
Warming meridians and promoting blood circulation.
Treating wind-cold exterior conditions, relieving pain in the shoulders, back, and limbs, alleviating chest discomfort and phlegm retention, and addressing gynecological issues like amenorrhea.
Additional notes on the effects of Guizhi:
"Cheng Wu Ji": This herb can dispel excessive movements of the uterus (amenorrhea), harmonize the muscle layer, clear stagnant blood from the lower abdomen, and aid lung function.
"Yi Xue Qi Yuan" and "Zhu Zhi Ji": Guizhi is effective in treating headaches caused by wind-cold, promoting the opening of pores, resolving surface issues, and addressing skin rashes and joint pain.
"Ben Cao Jing Shu": Guizhi is effective in expelling pathogenic factors from the surface of the body.
It primarily benefits liver and lung functions, alleviates headaches, and relieves pain associated with wind-damp bi syndromes.
"Yao Pin Hua Yi": Guizhi specializes in treating the upper part of the body, particularly the shoulders and arms. It can direct the medicinal effects to painful areas, addressing phlegm stagnation and blood stasis between the joints.
"Ben Cao Bei Yao": Guizhi warms meridians, promotes blood circulation, induces sweating, and relaxes muscles.
"Ben Cao Zai Xin": It warms the middle burner, promotes blood circulation, invigorates the spleen, dries dampness, and reduces swelling.
It can be used to treat symptoms like cold limbs, numbness, muscle spasms, and discomfort due to external cold.
Pharmacological Actions of Cinnamon Twig:
Antimicrobial Activity: Guizhi extracts can inhibit the growth of bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus, at concentrations of 25 milligrams per milliliter or lower. It also exhibits inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus albus, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus anthracis, Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio cholerae, and others (using agar well diffusion method).
Antiviral Activity: Guizhi decoction (1:20) exhibits inhibitory effects on the Asian influenza type A virus H3N2 and the echovirus (ECHO11) when tested on primary cultures of human embryonic kidney cells. On chick embryos, it has demonstrated inhibitory effects on influenza virus, with 70% alcohol extracts showing better efficacy.
Diuretic Effect: In experiments with anesthetized dogs, intravenous injection of Guizhi-containing Wu Ling San (0.25 grams/kg) significantly increased urine output. When Guizhi alone was injected intravenously (0.029 grams/kg), its diuretic effect was more pronounced than the other four herbs, suggesting that Guizhi is a key diuretic component in Wu Ling San, possibly acting similarly to mercury diuretics.
Guizhi, also known as Cinnamon Twig, is the slender branches of the laurel family plant, Cinnamomum cassia. It has a spicy and sweet taste and possesses warm properties. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is known to enter the Heart, Lung, and Bladder meridians, and it offers several health benefits and pharmacological effects. It is commonly used in clinical practice for:
Treating wind-cold exterior syndromes.
Alleviating pain and discomfort associated with cold-damp conditions, menstrual cramps, and dysmenorrhea.
Addressing phlegm and water retention-related conditions like coughing and wheezing, as well as urinary difficulties.
Health Benefits and Pharmacological Effects of Guizhi:
Benefits of Cinnamon Twig:
Inducing sweating and relaxing muscles.
Warming meridians and promoting blood circulation.
Treating wind-cold exterior conditions, relieving pain in the shoulders, back, and limbs, alleviating chest discomfort and phlegm retention, and addressing gynecological issues like amenorrhea.
Additional notes on the effects of Guizhi:
"Cheng Wu Ji": This herb can dispel excessive movements of the uterus (amenorrhea), harmonize the muscle layer, clear stagnant blood from the lower abdomen, and aid lung function.
"Yi Xue Qi Yuan" and "Zhu Zhi Ji": Guizhi is effective in treating headaches caused by wind-cold, promoting the opening of pores, resolving surface issues, and addressing skin rashes and joint pain.
"Ben Cao Jing Shu": Guizhi is effective in expelling pathogenic factors from the surface of the body.
It primarily benefits liver and lung functions, alleviates headaches, and relieves pain associated with wind-damp bi syndromes.
"Yao Pin Hua Yi": Guizhi specializes in treating the upper part of the body, particularly the shoulders and arms. It can direct the medicinal effects to painful areas, addressing phlegm stagnation and blood stasis between the joints.
"Ben Cao Bei Yao": Guizhi warms meridians, promotes blood circulation, induces sweating, and relaxes muscles.
"Ben Cao Zai Xin": It warms the middle burner, promotes blood circulation, invigorates the spleen, dries dampness, and reduces swelling.
It can be used to treat symptoms like cold limbs, numbness, muscle spasms, and discomfort due to external cold.
Pharmacological Actions of Cinnamon Twig:
Antimicrobial Activity: Guizhi extracts can inhibit the growth of bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus, at concentrations of 25 milligrams per milliliter or lower. It also exhibits inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus albus, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus anthracis, Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio cholerae, and others (using agar well diffusion method).
Antiviral Activity: Guizhi decoction (1:20) exhibits inhibitory effects on the Asian influenza type A virus H3N2 and the echovirus (ECHO11) when tested on primary cultures of human embryonic kidney cells. On chick embryos, it has demonstrated inhibitory effects on influenza virus, with 70% alcohol extracts showing better efficacy.
Diuretic Effect: In experiments with anesthetized dogs, intravenous injection of Guizhi-containing Wu Ling San (0.25 grams/kg) significantly increased urine output. When Guizhi alone was injected intravenously (0.029 grams/kg), its diuretic effect was more pronounced than the other four herbs, suggesting that Guizhi is a key diuretic component in Wu Ling San, possibly acting similarly to mercury diuretics.
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